Well-drilling apparatus.



No. 841,259. PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907. G. D. LOOMIS.

WELL DRILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1906.

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7 A TTORNE Y5 PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

G. D. LOOMIS. V WELL DRILLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12,1906.

WITNESSES.-

A TTORNE Y5 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE D. Looms, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tiflin, in the county of Seneca and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Well-Drilling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to well-drilling apparatus.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a drilling-rig in which the main crank for actuating the spudding or walking clutched to or disconnected therefrom as circumstances may require, so that the shaft may be operated continuously and the crank intermittently.

A further object of the invention is to im-' prove and simplify the construction of the operating mechanism with a view of securin more complete control of the mechanism an for permitting the independent operation of various parts of the rig.

With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arran ement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that varlous changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the s int or sacrificing any of the advanta es 0 the invention.

In t e accompanyin drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a wellrilling apparatus embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the main crankshaft on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, the view being on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a portionof the machine on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, showing the manner in which the derrick is raised to operative position.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

While the invention is applicable to drilling-rigs of that class in which the engine, derrick, and other parts are separate and situated at any convenient point adjacent to the Well, the illustration in the present application is confined to that class of drilling-rigs known as the portable.

The working parts of the apparatus are Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 12, 1906. Serial No. 316,672.

beam is loose on 'the main shaft, and may be- TE STATES PATENT @FFTQ.

GEORGE D. LOOMIS, OF TIFFlN, OHIO.

WELL-DRILLING APPARATUS- Patented Jan. 15, 1907.

supported on a suitable frame 10, that is mounted on wheels 11 The internal-combustion en ine 12 shown in the drawings is provided wit a main shaft 14, carrying balance-wheels 15 and a governor 16. i

The governor is arranged to be engaged by a suitable adjusting means, which in the present instance takes the form of-a bellcrank lever 18, that is pivoted on a vertically-disposed stud 19, carried by the main frame, and by moving this lever the governor may be set to permit operation of the engine at any predetermined speed, movement of the 'lever in one direction allowing the e ate at increased speed, while a justment of the lever in the opposite direction reduces the speed. The opposite arm of the bell-crank lever is connected to the rear end of a rod 20, which extends to the front of the machine and is usually provided'with an operatinghandle 21, within convenient reach of an operator standing at the foot of the derrick, and by moving this rod in the direction of its length the governor may be adjusted for the purpose of controlling the speed of the engine, the governor also acting to maintain uniform engine speed under varying loads unless the lever be moved.

Mounted onthe shaft 14 is a drive-pulley 23, which preferably is loose on the shaft and may be locked thereto by a friction-clutch 24, said clutch having an operating-collar 25, that is slidably mounted on the shaft and is grooved for the reception of the bifurcated rear end of a bell-crank lever 26, that is pivine to oper-.

oted on a bracket 27 extending from one side of the main frame. The opposite arm of the bell-crank lever is connected to the rear end of a rod 28, that extends to the front of the machine and is provided with a suitable operating-handle 29, adjacent to the. handle 21. I By moving the rod 28 the drivepulley 23 may be locked to or released from 1ts shaft, and this ulley serves to operate all portions of the dr' ling mechanism proper, so that when allowed to remain loose on the sh aft the engine may be utilized for the purpose of propelling the machine or by en agmg or disengaging said pulley the drilling operation may be started or stopped very suddenly, as is sometimes required. Near the forward end of the machine is arranged a bearing 31 for the reception of a transversely-disposed shaft 32, that carries at one end a large belt-wheel 33, that is con nected to the pulley 23 by a belt 34.

the usual manner.

The opposite end of the shaft extends into a hollow shaft 35, the latter being mounted in a bearing 36 on the frame. This hollow shaft 35 carries at one end a crank 37, havin a wrist-pin 38 for engaging with the spuddlng or walking beam or other drill-operating device, the" latter being arranged to operate in The opposite end of the hollow shaft is providedwith a suitable clutching means, by which it may be connected to the shaft 32, and in the present instance-the shaft 35 carries a clutch-disk 40, with which may en age a clutch 41', formed on one face of a s'lidable collar 42, that is free to move longitudinally on a non-circular portion of the shaft 32 said collar being arranged to rotate with the shaft at all times, and when the clutch-face 41 is moved into engagement with theclutoh- 40 the crank 37 Wlll be rotated for the purpose of conveying motion to the drill-actuating devices. The collar 42 is provided with an annular groove, which receives the bifurcated rear end ofthe operating-lever 45, that is pivoted on a stud 46, carried by the frame. The front end of the lever is arranged within convenient reach of the operator standing at the front of'the machine, and the latter may move the clutch to engage or disenga e the crank whenever necessary. The sha t 32 also carries a loose s rocket-wheel 48, which may be clutched to the collar 42, the hub of the wheel being shown as provided with a clutch 49, with which may engage a clutch 50, carried by the collar 42. The sprocket-wheel 49 is connect ed by a link belt 52 to a sprocket-wheel 53 of a windin -shaft 54, mounted in suitable bearings, an said shaft receives a cable or chain 55, having at its free end a hook 56,- which may be engaged in an eye '57 at the foot of .the derrick 58, so that when necessary the mechanism may be employed for the purpose of raising the derrick to operative position, The clutch-collar 42 may be readily moved to engage with either the clutch 40 or the clutch 49; but when desired said collar may be moved to an intermediate position free from enga ement with both clutching members 40 an 49, so that both will remain idle. Secured to the shaft 32 is a friction-disk 59, withfwhich may engage a friction-disk 60, carried by a spool or rope-shaft 61, extending transversely of the frame. This shaft 61 carries the main drill-rope, and it may be positively turned for the purpose of winding up the rope and hoistingthe drilling-tool, or it may be allowed to run free when the drillingtool descends by gravity Near the front of the machine is a second Windin -shaft 65, at the outer end of which is a friction-wheel 66.

. fitting Within the rim of the main belt-wheel In operation the internal-combustion engine is started, and then the operator moves to his position at the well and by pulling or pushing on the handle 21 adjusts the sensitiveness of the overnor in accordance with the speed at which the-engine is to run, and this is accomplished while the en" ine is run ning. He then moves the rod 28 or the purpose of locking the drive-pulley 23 to the shaft 14, so that motion may be imparted to the shaft 32. The hook 56 of the cable 55 is then connected to the eye 57 of the derrick 58, and then the lever 45 is manipulated for the purpose of forcing the clutch 50 into engagement with clutch 49. Movement is then imparted to the winding-shaft 54 and the cable 55 is wound until the derrick is elevated to the working position.

The various working parts of the machine having been adjusted, their operation is then under the control of the operator stationed at the foot of the derrick, and he may quickly connect or disconnect the crank 37, which operates the drill-actuating devices, or may instantly disconnect the whole mechanism or connect the same by .manipulating the clutch 24, or he may chan e the speed of operation of the engine by pusiing or pulling on the handle 21, or he may connect or dis-.

adjusted for a certain speed the governor automatically maintains that speed under a varying load until the lever is again moved, and it is not necessary to make any readjustment to maintain a given speed as the load varies. Adjustment is only necessary to change the speed of the engine. The governing mechanism employed'may be of the ordinary construction, and it is not necessary to remove any of the parts of the governor of the commercial engine or to substitute other ap liances.

11 order tooperate successfully a welldrilling mechanism by means of an internalcombustion engine, it is essential that the engine be kept constantly running, for it is not readily stopped and cannot be started from the drillers position'at the well. Since it is necessary that the drill-actuating means be capable of being stopped suddenly and started again from the drillers position at the well, an internal-combustion engine would not be available for successful use unless the loose crank referred to is employed, said crank being readily disconnected from and connected to the constantly-moving shaft by the driller stationed at the well.

In well-drilling apparatus in'ordinary use there is usually a main r0 e-spool on which the drill-rope is wound an a sand-line spool.

These are-operated by power from the en- IOC gine conveyed by suitable means, and should the ordinary method of stopping the motion of either rope-spool fail to work instantly and the s 001 continue to move serious results W0 (1 occur should an internal-combustion engine be. used. To prevent any such occurrence, the loosepulley arranged on the engine-shaft or counter-shaft is controlled by a clutch so fixed as to be instantly operated from the drillers position at the well. By throwing out the clutch the entire mechanism operating the rope-spools is'instantly stopped. In the operation of raising the derrick should it be impossible to stop the motion of the driving-drum owing to the failure of the ordinary clutching means the clutching-pulley on the engine-shaft would by being thrown out prevent serious accident.

In order to obtain the greater efiiciency in service of this arrangement of a drilling-machine and an internal-combustion engine, it is necessar that the speed of the engine be capable of eing instantly adjusted and controlled from the drillrs position at the well and that the governing means on the engine be allowed. free action to maintain a uniform s eed under varying loads. This is accomp 'shed by the governing means and ,adjusting device described.

claim- 1. In a portable well-drilling ap aratus, a wheeled frame, an engine mounted thereon, a main shaft receiving motion from theengine, a hollow crank-shaft, av crank carried thereby and arranged to operate the drilling mechanism, and a clutching means for connecting and disconnecting the two shafts.

2. In a drillinga shaft, means for actuating it, a crank oose on the shaft, and means for clutching the crank and shaft.

3. In a drilling-rig, a power-shaft, a hollow shaft mounted loosely thereon and having a drill-actuating crank, and means for connecting and disconnecting the two shafts.

4. In a drillin -rig, a power-shaft, a loose crank mounted t ereon and serving to transmit movement to the drilling mechanism, and means for connecting and disconnecting the shaft and crank.

5. Ina drilling-rig, actuatin shaft, a c utch-disk at t e opposite end of the shaft, a main shaft extending into the hollow shaft, and in part supported thereby, a clutching member mounted on the main shaft, and means for o erat' the clutch.

' hecom ination with a a hollow shaft, a drill- 6. In a drll' hug-rig, t frame, of a sha t, means foractuating the same, a drill-operating crank, having a clutch-face, a sprocket-wheel mounted looselyon the shaft and having a clutch-face,

a clutching member carried by the shaft, and movable to engage either thecrank or the s rocket-wheel with the shaft, a windingm or shaft, a sprocket-wheel carried thereby, and a link belt connecting the two sprocket-wheels.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in thepresence of two witnesses.

GEO. D. LOOMIS.

Witnesses:

D. L. Looms, E. R. Goon.

crank arranged at one end of the 

